07/13/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- - Bill Sweet, No.1 Centre Court, 44 West Broadway, said he owns Literary Lion. He said his store is open until 9 p.m. every evening. He said he is a member e of the Board of Directors of the EDA. He said he agrees with Ms. Haislip's testimony. Referri ng to Mr. Schwartz's testimony, he said the EDA i s reconsidering its position on opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th. He said the idea of an electric trolley downtown is interesting. He said he could have supported opening Willamette Street to vehicles between 8th and 10th at one time but his customers have told him they do not want it and he listens to customers. He said he has been told his rent will be increased. He said that kind of pressure is unacceptable to him and he wants to make it public. Mr. Sweet said about 40 percent of his customers are visitors to Eugene and they find the store. He said the "Gut" will move downtown if Willamette is opened to traffic. He suggested a decision about other improvements be delayed until the results of the West Broadway reconstruction are evident and then other improvements be made incrementally. Tom Slocum, 1950 Graham Drive, said the urban renewal program has not been very successful. He said much development in the Urban Renewal District does not provide tax increment funds. He said most of the new development would be more suitable for the commercial development at 40th Avenue and Donald Street. He discussed the Consumer Price Index. He said the urban renewal program jeopardizes opportunities in the city because it makes taxes in other parts of the city too high. Mr. Slocum said the object of urban renewal programs should be to develop buildings that will provide tax increment funds quickly to payoff bonds that e provide public improvements so the buildings can be put back on the tax roles to reduce taxes in the rest of the community. He said the council should reconsider the Eugene Urban Renewal Program. He said office buildings with first floor retail businesses should have been built in the downtown. He said there are many office buildings on Country Club Road and near Valley River Center. Mr. Slocum said access is important and Willamette should be opened between 8th and 10th to both traffic and parking if the council decides it wants a strong renewal program. Michael Anzema, 2638 Hawkins Lane, said he opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to traffic. He said the mall makes Eugene unique. He said the opening should be voted on by the people. Olga Freeman, 1431 East 22nd, said about $2 million is available from the, downtown tax increment district annually. She said she objects to spending about $1.5 million on opening Willamette. She said Eugene taxpayers are indirectly paying the $2 million because tax rates in other parts of the city are higher than they would be otherwise. She said the formation of the Riverfront Research Park Tax Increment District will increase taxes in other parts of the city. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 18